SPRINGFIELD -- The Massachusetts Ethics Commission issued a legal opinion on Wednesday, stating that a casino consultant hired by Springfield in July does not violate sections of the conflict of interest law -- despite the firm having served as a registered lobbyist in Illinois for two of the casino developers interested in the city.

The seven-page legal opinion was requested by the city’s casino consultant, Shefsky & Froelich of Chicago, and was forwarded to city officials on Wednesday.

The commission, through its Legal Division Deputy Chief, David A. Wilson, said members of Shefsky & Froelich, will be “special municipal employees” in Springfield, but divulged its Illinois connection to MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming, proposing casinos in the South End And North End of Springfield, respectively.

Under the conflict of interest law, no member of the project team in Springfield can “use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions of substantial benefit for himself or others that are not properly available for similarly situated individuals,” the letter stated.

Cezar M. Froelich, of Shefsky & Froelich, stated in a letter to City Solicitor Edward M. Pikula that the Ethics Commission concluded there was no conflict of interest.

“By filing the disclosure forms required by Massachusetts law, we believe we have fully complied with such law in a manner that allows us to provide unbiased advice to the city,” Froelich said.